The Khan Sheikoun Show - A New President Proudly Presented By Trump Productions

The "chemical attack" at Khan Sheikoun was faked and a show; though a number of people were killed or hurt during its production.

This video for example, of doctors and patients in an emergence roomwas pure theater, taken over a longer time period. The main presenter was a well-known criminal Takfiri but with links to the British secret service. The whole show was perfected, by specialists one would think, to fit for U.S. TV screens.

There were no scenes, zero in all the coverage, that showed casualties in places where they were surprised by gas and died. No basement was searched, no place of work or living was shown - only rescue centers. The male "victims" were clean shaven, despite living in al-Qaeda land. They even had two blond "Syrian" kidsin there (vid) to convince the racist constituency that "revenge" was needed and just. A cut right out of Wag The Dog (vid). It is now racist to object to the war!

Dilbert creator Scott Adams, one of the few who understands Trump's persuasion style and predicted his win, remarks:

It is almost as if someone designed this “tragedy” to be camera-ready for President Trump’s consumption. It pushed every one of his buttons. Hard. And right when things in Syria were heading in a positive direction. ... I’m going to call bullshit on the gas attack. It’s too “on-the-nose,” as Hollywood script-writers sometimes say, meaning a little too perfect to be natural. This has the look of a manufactured event. ... So how does a Master Persuader respond to a fake war crime?

He does it with a fake response, if he’s smart.

The response by the U.S. was not completely fake but as small as it could be. The base was warned and had been evacuated. All movable and valuable stuff had been taken away. The attack was even smaller than planned. The Russian Defense Ministry says only 23 out of 59 cruise missiles hit the base. The others were shot down by air defense or diverted by the famous Russian Electronic Counter Measures. The Pentagon insists that all 59 hit. But the pictures and video from the base only show damage to 11 aircraft shelters. Additionally one radar, one missile launcher and a fuel depot were hit. That effect is too small for 59 impacts. The base was in use again 12 hours after the strike. The attack on it was not really serious.

Adams makes it look as if Trump did not sign off on the whole stunt before it happened. As if it was made for Trump’s consumption. Why does he think so? Does he believe the CIA bureaucrats would not ask for a direct order and presidential cover before launching such a risky operation?

The pictures and scenes were not constructed for Trump's consumption. They were constructed by Trump for consumption by the "western" public. Never forget that Trump is also a successful professional TV presenter who knows how to act in front of cameras. The plot followed Trump's persuasion style. The same style he used during the campaign and that let him win. Trump had several reasons to create such an incident. It was perfectly timed for the visit of the Chinese President Xi. This was a stunt to Trump's liking. It was his production. The blond children were there to allowed for his "Beautiful babies were cruelly murdered ..." punch line. Trump proudly produced and presented to you: "Trump the NEW President".

The whole show was designed to let Trump look strong and presidential and to get rid of the "Russia Gate" nonsense the neocons ran against him. The prospect of stopping those attacks was an offer he could not refuse. Here a tweet of mine sent on the evening before the attack was launched:

"Russia Gate" is - for now - forgiven and forgotten. The NeverTrump-ers applause the strike and want more of them, ever more war and "regime change" in favor of al-Qaeda's rule.

More strikes may well come. The precedent has been established. Whenever al-Qaeda in Idleb comes under pressure and needs help we will see another fake "chemical attack". Will Trump follow up on those? Or will he manage to set aside the outrage that will follow such "attacks" when it does not fit his plans? Was this a one-time show? Or will Trump serialize it?

The open Syrian, Iranian and Russian response will be an intensification of the operations in Idleb. They will smash the "rebels" there by air and push more troops into that direction. The Russian organized flight coordination over Syria has been called off. Belgium already said its airforce will no longer take part in any U.S. "coalition" operation over Syria. Others will follow that example. An asymmetric response elsewhere will follow later. U.S. forces in the wider region better watch their backs.

Some people have wondered why the Chinese criticism of the attack at the UN Security Council or during Xi's meeting with Trump was rather mild. The Chinese believe that the best that can happen to them is a United States bogged down in further Middle East calamities. If the U.S. is busy in Iraq, Yemen and Syria it will have fewer capacity to mess up North Korea or seek a conflict over this or that atoll in the South China Sea. I can not blame them for that position.

Bonus: A truly journalistic highlight in U.S. news coverage of our time is this recommendation by CNN:

Jake Tapper @jaketapper

For more on Syria follow @AlabedBana 4:59pm · 4 Apr 2017

Do it! Be informed! Follow the 7 year old daughter of a Syrian Takfiri in Turkey. Videos of her show that she can not understand, speak or write English but sheknows how to manipulate her audience in perfect tweets:

After watching these three https://youtu.be/waFPHXq5DbQ,https://youtu.be/waFPHXq5DbQ,https://youtu.be/FDt631g3kYs, I think I have the story. the father of the two dead twins is in his house is bombed at 18.40 he takes them outside is told that his family house (not saying how far away it is) has also been hit, so he leaves his twins safe(no details who with) heads over to find 16 other family members dead so he returns 4 hours later only to find that his two twins who had left alive and well ( in good hands being only 10 months old) now deceased. No mention of what happened to the carers. All up 16 of his family members are buried in a mass grave but in the meantime he's carried his deceased twins cradled in his arms in a minivan full of people ( including children (in daylight ..... 18.40 + 4 hours is 11pm). The story just doesn't stack up. What time was rhe strike and where is that quarry in relation to all this.

To clamor for Russia to deploy 50k troops and end the war is to miss the point. Any "surge" by Russia would be matched by a torrent of javelins and stinger missiles to the jihadists, Turkish tanks being 'captured' by rebels and driven competent tank crews, trainloads of mlrs rockets, tons of towed artillery. Putin has played it low and slow because it doesn't allow for the fake news emotional appeals and massive weapons dumps.

And if you think China is going to save anyone, you need to wake up, because China is not interested. They want to secure hegemony over the eastern pacific and Indochina, and they want to keep extracting minerals from Africa on the cheap. They don't give a shit about gas pipelines to Europe and are only somewhat upset about the US and Turkey radicalizing Uighurs to use as canon fodder half a world away. Not that China is all that kind to its Uighur population. China is not going to show up with that old aircraft Carrier and some hovercrafts and establish a beachhead in Idlib. Put those fantasies back into the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I deduced that your intentions were pure and wasn't trying to be mischievous or critical. But I felt it important to remind everyone that the SK/NK enmity is 100% artificial and US-imposed (and COULD backfire bigly if the Yankees do something Yankee-ish).

B's Daily Mail online link features Dr Shajul Islam [who is the presenter of the 10 minute video] being interviewed by Bilal Abdul Kareem "Not only has Abdul Kareem consistently facilitated the dissemination of his guests' extreme views, he even gives them opportunities to call on viewers around the world to join them in their fight in Syria. He opened an interview with the extremist Saudi cleric Abdallah al-Muhaysini with praise for his influence over the rebels and their supporters. Ignoring Muhaysini’s well-documented role in the mass execution of captured Syrian soldiers, Abdul Kareem nodded approvingly as the cleric outlined the reasons why "jihad is obligatory" for Muslims around the world, who he maintains will be rewarded for their fight against Shia in Syria. Abdul Kareem frequently asks al-Muhaysini and other guests leading questions, seemingly coaxing rebel leaders into expressing extreme views that he might not be able to express openly.

Well, if the Russians have some kind of EW system that can take down a Tomahawk (no idea how, btw) then the explanation for why 36 Tomahawks went down and 23 Tomahawks didn't go down is easy: the former flew within the effective range of that EW system, while the latter didn't.

After all, you don't launch Tomahawks to send them out in a 59-strong conga-chain. You get each of them to fly a different flightpath, and (ideally) arrange for them all to arrive on target at the same time.

No system is going to give you 100% coverage.

But if you have a system that can take down more than 50% of the attackers then I have to say that's One Very, Very Impressive Weapons System.

"Adams makes it look as if Trump did not sign off on the whole stunt before it happened. As if it was made for Trump’s consumption. Why does he think so?"

Adams is fighting his cognitive dissonance, as he was a Trump voter.
His last piece shows he is still struggling to find some frigging coherence to Trump's actions, which makes him spin a surrealistic narrative -- that it was some kind of a master move designed to show who is boss as regards Iran, China, Syria, North Korea, and to strengthen his position at home as regards his base.

Well, if looking demented, bringing the world to the brink of WW3, and having your base desert you in droves is a "master stroke", one wonders what Adams would call "utterly moronic".

BTW, I have read the Chinese did not sign any trade deals with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

In a government of laws, the existence of the government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our government is the potent, the omnipotent, teacher.

For good or ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. If government becomes a lawbreaker it breeds contempt for law: it invites every man to become a law unto himself. It invites anarchy.

—Justice Louis D. BRANDEIS

this is just what's gone on here in thailand. the dic has given himself the power to do anything he feels like doing, and grants himself immunity for whatever results.

Section 44. In the case where the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order is of opinion that it is necessary for the benefit of reform in any field and to strengthen public unity and harmony, or for the prevention, disruption or suppression of any act which undermines public peace and order or national security, the Monarchy, national economics or administration of State affairs, whether that act emerges inside or outside the Kingdom, the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order shall have the powers to make any order to disrupt or suppress regardless of the legislative, executive or judicial force of that order. In this case, that order, act or any performance in accordance with that order is deemed to be legal, constitutional and conclusive, and it shall be reported to the National Legislative Assembly and the Prime Minister without delay.

now tee-rump has broken the ice with his patently illegal - under domestic and international law - attack on syria. he's written his own section 44. the cia's helped, accomplished their own aims, and put the 'kick me' sign on his back, all in one 'deft' motion.

well, zionist ... you're right. and zionism inevitably leads to racism, the usa and israel being the prime examples.

but in the realm of 'words' what he says above is (mostly) true. and applies to trump's defiance of the rule of law in syria on ... 4/7 2017?

i was more concerned at the gratuitous slur of anarchism above than with Brandeis' own personal failings. there can certainly, and must be, law created bottom-up in a democracy. there is no reason to 'require' its dictation, top-down. to equate anarchy with the absence of the rule of law is a traditional slur.

b. I think that going into the details of this alleged attack and how it all unfolded is rather irrelevant and sickening.
What matters is how to stop USA dismantling the efforts for the peace in Syria and wider region.
If USA is going to go with putting its troops on the ground in a near future (next week?) - in Syria we see the major escalation beyond belief, that would be equal and as dangerous as trying to implement a no-fly zone and even more as it will conflict directly to the already present Russian Army.
Cynicism in all that is to think that USA already has the ground troops in Syria and it is ISIS.

It seems that this asynchronicity and the chaos that USA is in right now will linger on for sometime until Trump is gone or those neo-con leftovers of Bush W./Obama era are dismantled for good.
World doesn't like uncertainty, markets even less so, but chaos is really dangerous to us all.

To expand upon your points, all following combination of doctrine, capabilities and some limited speculation:

The effective range and operational capabilities of the various known RU advanced EW systems is, unknown :)
Yet the subject of very considerable substantive speculative chatter for quite a few years now.

Deployment locations, unknown. Though highly probable both Tartus(T) & Latakia(L). The response time would be rapid, detection range ~80Km+ re Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) Tomahawk Cruise Missiles (CM), the effective engagement range ? Tomahawks are quite old design CMs, even given the most recent upgrades, and unlike a strike aircraft, cannot carry its own additional ECM/ECCM pods onboard, no way, nor are they supported by accompanying EW/ECM/ECCM aircraft as in conventional/traditional manned aircraft strike packages. Hence, significant vulnerability to a capable first world adversary re EW. They rely on combination of GPS/Terrain mapping matching and limited uplink facilities. And we're way to used to only engaging limited/incapable 2nd/3rd tier adversaries and below ...

An EW system that could effectively jam the GPS & uplink significantly reduces both accuracy during flight and at terminal target. If an inaccuracy was introduced mid flight NOE @ ~890Km/h, even a modest error could cause groundstrike. Forced Reliance on mapping/matching without GPS/Uplink increases percentage loss due to % terrain/mapping errors. An EW system that could feed false data to the GPS would be able to crash it, even misdirect it ... ability to send commands via the uplink, control/reprogram it directly.

Indeed, no 59 strong conga-chain. Would all have unique flight paths to Shayrat, yet all timed so as to strike near simultaneously, regardless ... if desirable, en echelon, a double-tap, in two separate simultaneous waves, first to take out any defenses/command & control sites, second destruction of primary objectives.

A look at a map, even just google, shows Shayrat to the east between ~120km & ~200Km from T/L respectively. The area Nth of Tartus and Sth of Latakia is a kill-zone re the respective s400 & S300 complexes, as well as in a radius of ~80Km of either T/L, without even considering any EW.

So the flight paths to avoid significant losses re ingress is north of Latakia, E then Sth to Shayrat, and Sth of Tartus, possibly even Sth of Damascus and then NE. All those paths extend total flight time and increase risk of engagement by non-integrated yet widely dispersed Medium/Short SAM and AD gun systems, even Manpads, as well as other arms with secondary or limited AD capabilities (ie Hvy/Mdm machineguns, etc). Unlike manned aircraft, CMs don't 'evade' under fire, have no radar counter-measures nor chaf/flare counter-measures, they're dumb and rely on small size, low altitude and high subsonic speed. However, ~3m * ~6m at between ~50-300ft NOE subsonic means they are moderately to significantly vulnerable even to above if within slant range, especially when capable units have been alerted in advance, more so if provided with likely approach paths re above, even more so if general tracking data can be advised, critically so if specific tracking data advised.

The SAA S200 complexes have been upgraded by RF, if, as I speculate, they were effectively upgraded to S300 equivalent detection/tracking/engagement radar & command & control systems, yet plausibly-deniably (de-escalation) retained the S200 missiles (upgraded electronics) and launchers, then they would also provide equivalent detection/tracking though not engagement capabilities similar to Tartus/Latakia of ~80Km+. If so, then it gets very interested re above para ...

Were 36 destroyed by combination of percentage failure and positive RU/SAA action ? or did 58 strike as the Pentagon claims ? All parties are motivated to tell outright lies re the numbers. But the actual militarily significant damage to Shayrat Airbase operational use, facilities, personnel and materiel was at best, marginal, IMV.

b,
One factor you have not taken into account is Trump's actual base of #MAGA "deplorables". They seem very upset. I've never seen so many articles linked to the American Conservative or Breitbart against these strikes. Yes! Breitbart! I hope Trump is hearing them because I think many here agree with their stance. I'm no Trump supporter but this warmongering/regime change
direction is unsustainable for this(US) country.

"Adams makes it look as if Trump did not sign off on the whole stunt before it happened. As if it was made for Trump’s consumption. Why does he think so? Does he believe the CIA bureaucrats would not ask for a direct order and presidential cover before launching such a risky operation?"

Trump is an incompetent, egomaniacal, ignorant, unintelligent doofus who would be incapable of coming up with this on his own. If you saw any minutes of his TV series "The APprentice" or the even more ridiculous "Celebrity Apprentice", you would know that his modus operandi is to sit and wait for his 'candidates' to come up with something that appeals to him. He has no idea in advance what that might be. He is too ignorant and self-obsessed and insecure to propose anything, but he knows what he likes - and he likes anything that appears to increase what he sees as the respect he 'deserves' from those stronger, more intelligent, or richer than he is, increase his personal wealth, or increase the 'love' he believes he has from the American people. If somebody - anybody - can show him a plan that meets any of those criteria, he signs off on it. He is as pathetic as he is a vessel and magnet for evil.

Scott Adams continues to see clearly through the fog of bullshit that has become our "national conversation".

Strange enough the tree video https://youtu.be/waFPHXq5DbQ,https://youtu.be/waFPHXq5DbQ,https://youtu.be/FDt631g3kYs have been removed by the forces of darkness, like SATAN their are scare of the truth! I now can say without a shred of a doubt that the worlwide judeomedia or MSN are lying to their teeth! The whole things has happen from my perspective because of Putin miscalculation on the US administration!
Why wait each time to be on the defensive? Why Syria wasn't equiped with an integrated air defense control so that none of these aggresion from all directions woud not take place ?
Putin answer about respecting the military balance in the region, show that he wasn't not prepare to let Syria defend himself against Israel! I am to conclude that Satan really rule this world, their are all fulfy !

Yeah, they bring in the fleet; a nice tight group; ripe for 1 nuke to take out the whole fleet in one blast!
The U.S. posturing toward North Korea is very bad theater at best...
It's more than high time for the U.S. to undestand they're not the brightest bulbs on the planet!!!

According to independent journalist Mike Cernovich, National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster is trying to get Trump to sign off on a plan that would put 150,000 US troops on the ground in Syria. McMaster is plotting how to sell a massive ground war in Syria to President Trump with the help of disgraced former CIA director and convicted criminal David Petraeus http://russia-insider.com/en/breaking-trumps-national-security-adviser-wants-full-scale-war-syria/ri19516
Its illegal, bold and maybe stupid, but could easily either remove [plan A] Assad or implement partition [plan B].
Something bold from Iran/Russia is required now to preempt any such moves. Iran could themselves insert 100,000 troops. If Russia/Iran faff about with such unpredictable leaders in the US. They may lose it all.

You forget that Syria has no importance for the US, serious boots on the ground will need congress and Russia has staked its claim.

On the other hand Russia has staked its claim but Syria is not that elemental for Russia either - they could live with any president who would grant them Tartous. The alliance with Hezbollah is an embarassement for them in dealing with Israel.

What you witness is a fight to death within Trump's team, ALT+Right versus Jared Kushner who happens to be a democrat in the Trump administration.

The only actor now who needs Assad to grant the presence of Hezbollah as a safeguard against Israel is Iran, so Press tv features a telephone conversation by Assad with Rouhani on their website. Assad had to turn to a Croatian website to let everybody know that he will not compromise.

So to end the criminal war in Syria someone has to get the US, Israel and Iran at the negotiating table with Russia. If Iran can feel safe from the Bush list of Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Iran and Yemen, there might be safety for Israel, too.

"YOU are the problem, dumbass!" doesn't help to bring people to their senses. In many cases it has the opposite effect.

The neolibcons/Deep State/Zionists/etc. are deliberately playing people. People need to be shown that without recrimination.

And HOW do you propose to stop TPTB? They own the media and all positions of any real power. By what practical mechanism will people come together to oppose them and return power to the people?

I have proposed direct democracy. The Pirate Party has a program that has been successful in other countries (notably Iceland).

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Trump has shown that he is the Republican Obama. Except that Trump's business interests and ego allow for more efficient bribing.

Just like with Obama, the establishment wields the 'stick' of scorn and offers financial rewards for going along with the elitist program. Its a game. Both Obama and Trump are willing players - NOT the good-hearted, well-meaning public servants that they are portrayed to be. The fix is in!

Thus, the outlandish over-the-top criticism of Trump and the Russian witch-hunt are part of the game. Just as with Obama, this controlled opposition provides an excuse for Trump to serve the interests of the establishment - which is his intention all along.

Labour party leaders fighting amonst themselves. Hilary Benn whose departure from the frontbench sparked a leadership challenge against Mr Corbyn, said he hoped Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad might now “think twice” about using chemical weapons. Strange that a man like Benn should say such a thing without evidence "Sentence first,verdict afterwards"
Former Treasury minister Angela Eagle said: “The limited, targeted action taken against Syrian air assets today was morally justifiable in response to a crime against humanity... and compliant with our Responsibility to Protect.” Does she not know R2P is only applicable when all 5 veto wielding members agree. Otherwise it is aggression. Some effin leaders these two would make.

Yep. Clump, or scatter? It's my favourite military conundrum.
There's a wiki entry and a YouTube on one approach to the existential dread of being THE sitting duck; aka Goalkeeper CIWS, a 50mm auto-targeting gattling gun for anti-ship missiles. It's very impressive but not half as comforting as being somewhere else...

Current National Security Adviser Herbert Raymond “H. R.” McMaster is manipulating intelligence reports given to President Donald Trump, Cernovich Media can now report. McMaster is plotting how to sell a massive ground war in Syria to President Trump with the help of disgraced former CIA director andconvicted criminal David Petraeus, who mishandled classified information by sharing documents with his mistress.

As NSA, McMaster’s job is to synthesize intellience reports from all other agencies. President Trump is being given an inaccurate picture of the situation in Syria, as McMaster is seeking to involve the U.S. in a full scale war in Syria.

The McMaster-Petraeus plan calls for 150,000 American ground troops in Syria.

Many special operations veterans including General Joseph Votel have raised serious concerns about McMaster’s plans for Syria.

Sources also suggest that McMaster is sharing classified information with Petraeus, whose security clearance was revoked.

Petraeus’ influence in the NSC remains strong.

McMaster was called Petraeus’ golden child by some commenters, noting the strong influence Petraeus had over McMaster. Petraeus was considered for the position of NSA, but withdrew his name from consideration once McMaster’s name was included on the short-list. McMaster’s appointment allowed Petraeus to maintain control over the NSC without bringing his considerable baggage to the position.

Derek Harvey, the top Middle East adviser in the NSC, has close ties with Petraeus and is close with McMaster. (Harvey reportedly faces a massive EEO complaint from subordinates, although that investigation remains open.)

Harvey and McMaster have been trying to subvert Joint Chiefs Chairman General Joseph Dunford and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Mattis and Dunford support working with our allies in the fight against ISIS. Harvey and McMaster are advocating for a massive American-only ground force.

Two men were standing in between another U.S.-led war in the Middle East — General Mike Flynn and Steve Bannon.

Flynn was removed after Susan Rice unmasked classified information concerning him. Bannon’s role within the White House was weakened by McMaster, who demanded Bannon be removed from his advisory position at NSC.

McMaster’s friends in the media, as part of a broader strategy to increase McMaster’s power, have claimed Jared Kushner and Bannon had a major falling out. In fact Kushner and Bannon are united in their opposition to McMaster’s plan.

If McMaster and Petraeus have their way, America will find itself in another massive war in the Middle East.
— -
Mike Cernovich is the journalist who broke the Susan Rice unmasking story.

Neither the US nor Iran is stupid enough for that. Whoever puts massive 'boots on the ground' loses the game, as it is neither popular nor serves any military purpose. The partition is there allright, it doesn't take more than a few SF and air defence to perpetuate it.

This is how the US lost the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Can't really imagine it happening, esp. since it would be even less popular both domestically and globally than in 2003.
Of course, if we believe T. to be a 'Russian agent' it makes perfect sense; would be a huge party for Moscow and Beijing who could, in no hurry, take over the rest of the world.

So many different interpretations are possible…E.g. Trump capitulated to the PTB, following dire pressure - blackmail, threats - or simple personal laziness, greed (> 8..9).. ?? .. a silent coup. Maybe - I doubt it. In that case the posturing aspect (> b in top post, Don,12) would be absent.

The capitulation would have taken much more time and been messier. The ‘attack’ on the Syr. air-base was a stunt. Both the ‘dodgy’ and no doubt ‘fakish’ chem attack - haven’t looked at details, thanks to those who laid that out, and the ‘riposte’ would have taken some time to plan, effect, here we see bang-boom events, scripted like in a movie to concatenate time and make it simple.

All is beyond sordid, vomiting. Using war-porn on the public in a kind of reverse prop manouver…and back-room steely metaphorical knives…Trump fits right in, fantastical mega bigly adaption.

The view that DT has his heart in the right place (whatever..), yet is totally in over his head and hasn’t a clue what to do at any point in time and stumbles around, isn’t admitted by anyone… as it degrades the US for allowing the election of DT, being rudderless, etc. So conspiracy it has to be.

Reactions at the UN: China, Sweden and Uruguay all took the position (paraph.) that reactions towards those guilty of using chem weapons should be ‘supported’ (very ambiguous language) by intl’ law and should be ‘approved’ by the UNSC (vague), signalling that maybe it ain’t Assad but ISIS.

I was surprised by the missile launch. I was happy at Tillerson coming out and saying - Assad is not problem. then the strike. this is hall of mirrors stuff. I wonder who orchestrates hall of mirrors stuff? It is not hard to believe that sometime in Trump's life that Trump has done blackmailable stuff and national security has it all. Even if not, Trump appears to like/love his children - how can he be not vulnerable to threats? The facts are Flynn was fired (no great loss there) and Bannon demoted (ditto) However, these are clear signals as to whose influence is paramount. Kushner and Ivanka are clearly with the blob. Jamie Gorelick (who was Janet Reno's handler - but Janet the children, the children [Waco]) is now with Ivanka. Kushner is an agent of Israel. Russia's response - imagine how irritating this is to Russia - they clearly do not want a war with the US. What options do they really have except to strengthen air defenses in Syria and cut coordination with the US. It would clearly be in their interest to end the war in Syria with an intact Syria surviving as soon as possible. What will Trump do? Who knows? Even more so with Trump than with every politician, one can't go with what they say.

Great. I was worried for a moment there; you're sarcasm is well-disguised. :)

@112

Xi was temporarily Mar-a-Lago'd and no doubt this was Trump's intention wining and dining him while he tomahawked Syria's airbase. However, when Xi sees the USS Carl Vinson and yet more warships prowling in China's Northern back yard, the Mar-a-Lago glitter will quickly dissipate from view.

Yeah, China has been holding back on Syria except for supporting Russia on Syria at the U.N. However Xi must realize the geo-strategic importance of Syria for Russia and Iran to stop full imperial hegemony in the region.

China understands that without Russian and Iranian oil and gas China's economy will be crippled and despite China's significant military and great weaponry without oil and gas it's military power is also diminished.

China is totally dependent on Russian oil and without it - it's toast. If Russia were to say: China jump! China would reply: How high??? I'm not saying at all that Russia would humiliate China; I'm saying that this kind of existential symbiosis creates LOYALTY. This is why any plan to split the China/Russia and I'll include Iran axis is an exercise in futility. These three recognize the leverage they have in sticking together. Separately, they become vulnerable, but together they represent a formidable check on the Empire's hegemony.

Maybe Russia doesn't even want China militarily involved in Syria right now further complicating the situation. However, if the Empire starts making aggressive moves on Syria, China cannot hold back any longer, as China recognizes the stakes for its alliance in Syria. China's future being tied to these two, therefore, China's interests will similarly be threatened if Western imperial supremacy is cemented with the occupation of Syria by the U.S., KSA and Israel. China might therefore have to act in some greater capacity than just supporting Russia at the U.N.

I'm not sure how its involvement will manifest but if Russia and Iran start to lose control in Syria, China will have to step in and support this alliance.

How could China allow Syria to become a conduit for the Empire's total supremacy? I don't think China will let that happen. So I agree with you although I get the first paragraph rationale of 103, but Russia may have no choice either but to up the ante militarily. Pun intended.

141.
Actually, Putin's response so far was spot on. "Strengthening Syria's air defenses" is a brilliant move. It's not belligerent, fully lawful, defensive in nature, and logical. But it's also terrifying to Syria's detractors, particularly Israelis. Once Russians complete the overhaul, they may want to warn the US that if there is another unprovoked attack, Syrian government will transfer its national air defense obligations to Russia. That would be a complete game changer. At some not very distant point in time Trump may find himself in a situation when America launches another volley of Tomahawks - and none reaches it targets. That's the stuff the Pentagon's nightmares are made of.

To be precise, Tillerson said Asad no problem, and then that was on BBC/French media, probably elsewhere non stop for 24 hours, and the next day the US admin said "no way Asad can stay", then the strikes.

151.
No, that won't happen. US ships don't enter Syrian waters. They stay well beyond the range of most anti-ship missiles. But even if they did sail close enough, Russians wouldn't sink them, because that would trigger a potentially uncontrollable chain of events. They'd just shadow them and intercept Tomahawks when those cruise missiles are most vulnerable.

The US did inform the Russians - through the normal low level agreed procedure as appropriate for a normal aircraft sortie. The notification was delivered just before the event and there was not time for the obvious abuse of the system to be escalated up the command chain and down again. The Russians are therefore right to say they were not notified and they have dumped the Memorandum of Understanding to stop further abuse of the system. As far as they are concerned, the next time the cruise missiles could hit real Russian assets and they cannot take that chance. McMaster and the NeoCons want to do the whole "let's take on the Rooskies" bit and are itching for an excuse to escalate.

Another way to stop a Tomahawk attack is to sink the ships carrying the missiles. Any possibility that Syria could pull that off with Russian assistance?

Syria can easily do it, and wouldnt even need Russia's help with it. And while it would be 100% legal under UN charter as a retaliation to US aggression, but its not the way the World works. US and NATO would see it as an "aggression" on Syria's part and launch full scale war against it.

Syria cant afford it as it has its hands full with jihadis, nor Russia/Iran have enough power projection outside its borders, nor they would want WW3. However, they could supply enough "stuff" to make NATO bleed profusely.

@ Mina | 153

where is Haydar to comment on Muqtada Sadr supporting Asad's resignation?

Syria's conflict has nothing to with Assad, and him stepping down wouldnt change anything. UK FM said straight up - Assad or no Assad, as long as Syria will remain "non-friendly" to the West, they'll continue supporting jihadis.

Assad in 2012 suggested UN supervised democratic elections in which he wouldnt participate (Russia also floated this idea to the West), IF the West stops supporting terrorists. US absolutely rejected the idea. Why? Their puppets have no traction among Syrians, and new Syrian leader wouldnt be in the West pocket as well. Therefore US insists that not only Assad should step down, but that Syria would hand over power to US hand picked puppets.

In world capitals, at the United Nations and in military briefings, leaders spent the weekend trying to deduce what doctrine might lie behind the first direct attack by the US on the forces of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. On Sunday, the White House articulated Donald Trump’s message: your move, world.

Three of Trump’s top officials delivered that message to the public, careful to sidestep the president’s long history of contradictory statements and his love of a “flexible” negotiating position. In doing so, they sketched a foreign policy as reactive and mutable as the commander-in-chief himself.

Trump’s national security adviser, lieutenant general HR McMaster, said Russia, as Assad’s most powerful ally, could now change the course of world events.

...

Russia could be part of the solution,” McMaster said. “Do they want it to be a relationship of competition and potential conflict? I don’t see how that’s in Russian interests. Or do they want it to be a relationship in which we can find areas of cooperation that are in mutual interests?”

The relationship, he said, could be “whatever the Russians wants it to be”.

Sadr recommended Assad step down for the sake of the Syrian people**, I suspect referencing the futility of resisting the determined West's demands for same ... He also called for Russian AND the USA to get out of Syria (good luck with that) ...

I see no reason to question his continued loathing of the Americans, Saudis and other wannabe imperial / colonials powers. On several occasions in the 5 years, Assad has indicated he was ammenable to being phased out as part of a peace process ...

** I have made the same arguments wrt the Rebels giving up their apparently futile and increasingly externally funded and manned "insurgency"

I don't buy this theory for a second. That would mean that Trump was in fact in charge over all the acronym agencies and Pentagon that see that Continuity of Agenda is maintained and that have their knives out in the open meant for him. Certainly this was a false flag event to be pinned on the Syrian government but as a redux of the same 2013 style event and for the same reasons. There are even reports that American intelligence personnel on the ground in Syria are so rankled by this maneuver that some are said to be threatening to go public with the truth of what actually took place. This in itself may be a second reason as there seems to be personnel with the 'agencies' that took their oath and the election results to heart and are now acting on that oath with all the leaks we have seem recently. To those within the agencies who serve the 'Agenda' these personnel need to be outed and neutralized before they do even more damage than they have already done since Trump's ascendancy to office. Or two birds with one stone.

Going by Reuters headlines, the warmongers now have full control and US is going into full war mode to take down smaller countries - Syria, NK, Iran - plus Russia as soon as possible. Missed the deadline of seven countries in seven years and now trying to make up for lost time. Within a decade, China will be ahead of US in everyway, pivot on China largely foiled with forces tied up elsewhere and warmongers are spitting chips.

Translation: The attack on the airbase was indeed a one-off, and Moscow and Tehran know this.
They wouldn't define 'red lines' if this could indeed force them to retaliate in the future (cf. Obama 2013, painting himself into a corner).

The US has retaliated for the downing of the Israeli jet, and Russia/ Iran keep face by issuing a strong warning they won't have to act upon.

I don't know ... Moqtada took refuge for a couple of years in Syria when things got too dangerous for him in Iraq (and did a couple of years of seminary there) and then took refuge in Iran for a several years as he finished his seminary) ... He (and Iraq) owe Syria and Assad for providing a safe place (beyond American control) for groups to meet and negotiate.

My point is that I think to read his statement, as tempting as it may be to do so, as "even al-Sadr wants Assad to go..." is likely wrong. The USA is threatening extreme violence on a devastated people and demolished country (Syria) and -- by some accounts -- a "reengagement" in Iraq (with all too likely eventual war with Iran) ... iow, a cataclysm. I'm inclined to think that al-Sadr is naïve if he thinks the Americans might show some restraint or allow a new election to determine the future course -- but this would "call their bluff" in that Assad voluntarily removing himself would undermine their rationale.

The NYT seems to have reconciled itself with President Trump .. and is warmongering like crazy and worrying about the Bannon/Kushner feud and how Paul Manafort sold himself to Trump ... blah blah ... oh, and Obama's miscalculation in making a deal (wrt chem weapons) wiht assad. Not seeing any any Sunday talkshow blockbusters or indeed any clarification as to "what's next"

I saw an interview on RT live yesterday between Oksana Boyko (I think) and a woman from the Syrian opposition. I can't find it on youtube or on her show. Did anyone see this or know who the opposition figure was? Boyko did a good job through the woman's extreme condescension.

that is all the usa offers up - extreme violence with a lot of (innocent) dead (coloured) foreigners to show for it...bringing dumbocracy and tweedle -dee dum to the rest of the great unwashed masses in need of being 'saved'.. the 'help' is killing the planet..

Other than Russia upping their air defenses for their bases it appears Putin is throwing in the towel on Syria.

You can give much credit to Putin for going up the massive might of the US empire but he simply isn't the mastermind many have made him out to be:

1. Syria, Russia's main Middle East ally, is now in the process of being broken up and large parts taken over by the US

2. Iraq appears to be rapidly turning into a US vassal state after all the talk of it moving completely into the Russian and Iranian spheres

3. Turkey is a complete basketcase that Putin was unable to make any significant headway with despite an outright US backed coup against Erdogan

4. Yemem is on its way to ceasing to exist and with nothing left but rubble and starving refugees

A year from now when the US empire has expanded further into the Middle East and Asia, Russia, China, and Iran are going to be regret sitting on their hands when they could have jointly struck the US together and put a quick stop to the constant and ever increasing agression.

164.
Muqtada al-Sadr just revealed that he doesn't have even the most rudimentary understanding of the types of historical forces at work in Syria. That Shia cleric would openly advocate Al-Qaeda's takeover of Syria (a preordained result in case of foreign powers withdrawing and Assad resigning) and all-but-guaranteed butchering of non-Sunni communities in that country afterwards, testifies to an astounding level of naivete. Or maybe he is simply a first-class opportunist, time will tell.

9 April, Nikki Haley: "There's not any sort of option where a political solution is going to happen with Assad at the head of the regime," According to Haley, the regime change in Syria is one of the top priorities of the US foreign policy and a political solution of the crisis is not going to happen.

If that doesn't cast away any doubt about the pursued US policy regardless of the rubber-stamper-in-chief, I don't know what will.

I wonder if Moqtada Al-Sadr really said that, not that I'm saying he didn't but consider the source which is Al Arabya. That's like viewing some CNN anchor saying what Trump allegedly said or a Fox News anchor saying what Obama allegedly said. KSA's Al Arabya is pure fake news trash.

Obama and Kerry explicitly told Assad we would not let him win the civil war by defeating the rebels and reclaiming territory (i.e. militarily) ... but I thought Kerry (at least) had reconciled that Assad was going no where (particularly since the rebels refused, again for the nth time, to be seated at the negotiating table)

can't wait for Trump's stirring and "undoubtedly" heartfelt words about the 43 Christian martyrs (and more than 100 injured) created by ISIS bombs today, Palm Sunday -- Sisi's declared 3 months of state of emergency (how that rates next to martial law, I have no idea) ... Today's got a (discovered and aborted) bomb (or bomb-like device) in Oslo

168.
If I had a penny every time some commenter on this (and many others) board came up with the "Putin just surrendered" thesis, I'd a very rich man. Avoiding the utter stupidity of "red lines" doesn't indicate throwing in the towel in the slightest.

I don't speak or read Arabic but I think Juan Cole does. He offers direct quotes (translation?) from what he calls a "broadsite" which is usually a written document, and he links to what looks to be an arabic site where it was published. https://www.juancole.com/2017/04/russia-america-should.html

funny how you mention past news articles since i've seen quite a few leading up to this event with headlines like "trump could use false flag to grab power" or whatever. seems like false flags are the go-to method lately whereas they used to be spaced out a bit more.

i also considered the timing: both the xi visit and the fact that it was a thursday night which, as TV types know, is the ratings sweet spot (think cheers, seinfeld, friends). i assume it was his way to act like some insane medieval king dispatching enemies with a flick of the wrist while he gorges on a giant turkey leg or whatever. i doubt china was impressed...at least enough to even slightly change their "red lines" on north korea (the <50% hit rate of the tomahawks probably didn't send chills down their spines, either).

while i do see trump as being gullible enough to fall for such manipulative garbage, i also see it as his lewinsky/yugoslavia moment. distract from domestic failures, get (some) of the russiagatetards to shut the hell up, etc. a temporary "fix" at best, though. there are already braindead hipster hillary cultists spouting painfully stupid conspiracy theories that would make david icke roll his eyes.

Well that worked like a charm. Even Zero Hedge fell for it. This fake news game is getting too easy....

"
A fake news story has been circulating on both mainstream media and alt-media saying that Russia and Iran have issued a joint threat to ‘use force’ in the event of the US targeting Syrian forces again. It was also reported that the issue was quoted as being a ‘red line’, a term generally used by the United States."

Tillerson accurately describing the US. Be interesting to see if Russia, Iran, China start doing a tag team effort on the US, each in their own way.

Asked if Friday's strikes against Syria were a message to North Korea, Tillerson told ABC's This Week: "The message that any nation can take is, 'If you violate international norms, if you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken.'"http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-idUSKBN17B0TC

and I've seen two articles today mentioning Reichtstag fire, comparing Putin and the Chechnya apartment bombing as equivalent (no evidence needed, just reported as "true fact" that they were a false flag) ... bizarro, since the articles themselves stop short of declaring whose "false flag" this alleged gas attack might be, but cementing and layering the depth of Putin's evil ways ... good god... but Putin and Hitler and Assad all sitting in a tree, k.I.s.s.I.n.g....

Some wag mentioned that Trump was being compared to Hitler up until the moment he started killing people ...

Posted by: Peter AU | Apr 9, 2017 6:12:07 PM | 178
Words are cheap. In case of T-Rex and his boss, they are worthless.
If any lesson was learned last week, it is that we can safely ignore anything that comes from their mouth.
Човек се држи за реч, а во за рогове.

dh
I only bother to read Mercouris at the Duran
The story at al Masdar news matches what both Iran and Russia have already stated.
No red lines have been set, but unspoken red lines have been crossed. Direct US attack on Syrian government will not be tolerated.

Thinking about the Russia China Iran tag team thing.
Duterte, on good terms with China but there he was a few weeks ago taunting the US saying they were weak in not militarily kicking China off the Spratly islands. Now fat Kim taunting the US, challenging them to attack NK? US getting drawn into a trap, or what we see is what it is, and nothing more?

The USA just got sucked deeper into the MEA quicksand. The Saudi Paymasters and Israel Supporters require that the Shiite Crescent stay cut no matter the costs or risks. The only forces that the USA can use to do the job are the Kurds unless hundreds of thousands of NATO troops are inserted. The use of Kurds has alienated Turkey. Kurdish People’s Protection Units are very unlikely to fight Sunnis block by bloody block to take Raqqa. The Sunni rebels fighting the Assad government won’t. Taking the city from the Islamic State will be a sequel to the ongoing Mosul siege. The Empire is desperate. The President was snookered. One False Flag and the soft coup against him was successful. Détente is dead. Regime change lives on. More western troops are coming.

The basic problem is that the Global Establishment believes that Iran, Russia and China will back down. They can’t. Their survival is at stake. Today is more dangerous than during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Donald J Trump is no JFK

... if the Empire starts making aggressive moves on Syria, China cannot hold back any longer ...

lol. Lifted directly from the ongoing Debkafile fictional narrative, how very disappointing, sorceress.

So, should we expect a Chinese amphibious assault task force, their lone 'green' defensive/support carrier in-training and an escort flotilla to magically appear any moment and save the day, whilst avoiding WWIII ?

@ Posted by: Kmart | Apr 9, 2017 4:37:12 PM | 168

... it appears Putin is throwing in the towel on Syria.

You can give much credit to Putin for going up the massive might of the US empire but he simply isn't the mastermind many have made him out to be ...

Yeah, right. Not ! More of the same ...

RF, which is more than one individual Evil™ Demon-Head by the way, helped stabilize a desperate situation for Syria within three months of deploying a minor expeditionary force, and especially limited ground forces, at minor cost in blood & treasure, within their existing Defense budget without special nor additional allocations.

In the last 12 months, in support of Syria and in direct partnership with SAA/Iran/Hezbollah, they have effectively crippled the 'moderate' and not so moderate head-choppers ... against the combined efforts and resources of US/GCC/Turkey/UK/FR/Israel/etc and their proxy cannon-fodder ISIS/AQ, and overwhelming MSM Psyops/propaganda around the clock ...

go back through all sputnik and RT articles since Russian entry into syria plus more local sources like al Masdar ect for the mentions of the joint command centres. after reading through all those articles you will also become aware of what they will allow and not allow. US was tolerated so long as it was in some way doing damage to jihadists and not directly attacking Syrian or Iranian government. Russian mod statment when Russia set up the S-300 at Tartus will give a good idea of what is acceptable and what is not. Crossing over from what is acceptable to what is not acceptable crosses an unspoken - or not termed as such - red line.

DJT: (returning to table) Sorry, I had to be away. There is something that we should talk about.

Xi: Yes?

DJT: Are you enjoying your stay? We've got the best food at Mar-a-Lago. Top notch, really. Maine Lobster! You like lobster? America makes the best Maine Lobster… no country makes Maine Lobster like we do! And our chef ... he's the best... the best!

Xi: Very good.

DJT: I want us to be friends. You and I ... and our countries.

Xi: Well, we have much to discuss...

DJT:(demeanor turns serious) I just approved a missile strike on Syria. But we have sent a warning to Russia. We don't want a confrontation.

Xi: I don't understand. Why?

DJT: Look, I am a very peaceful guy. The nicest guy, really...

Xi: Yes.

DJT: I want to be friendly with everyone.

Xi: OK, but...

DJT: Its like when I was campaigning. I didn't attack my opponents unless they attacked me first.

Xi: But this is not ...

DJT: Its the same thing! Assad has been an obstacle to the US, and Putin has enabled him. Very bad.

Xi: I do not understa…

DJT: As a result, I'm attacked by my opponents in the US. Me. They attack me! So I have to respond.

Xi:(dazed expression) Uh...

DJT: I learned long ago that if one DOESN'T respond, one only encourages adversaries ... leaders can't look weak, right?

Xi: But Putin and Assad have not attacked you.

DJT: Putin and Assad have created a situation that causes attacks against me... er, the US. Have you seen how I am attacked? I have to respond! So, I responded to the SOURCE of the attacks. (Trump smiles)

Xi: (smiles)

DJT: I knew you would understand. I want us to be great friends. Great friends. Putin will get over it. It's a small strike. A pin prick, really. In the end, he will love me. The US wants to work with every country. Its not like it was with Obama. I am trying to fix what Obama broke! Countries that work with me will do very well. Very, very well. You'll see.

Xi: So it is like the American expression: what is good for the goose is good for gander?

DJT: Exactly! Only better. Really. Look at Milania, she's got everything she could ever want. I'm very a generous man. Really, really, very generous. I knew you would understand. That's EXACTLY the message I hope you will convey to Putin.

@ Outraged
looking into it a bit more, you are most likely right about an hour or more notice on the strike.

Servicble aircraft in shelters for repairs were hit and also air defence crew that stayed to man the system were killed.
Civilians killed were outside the airbase... the damage outside the airbase, and civilians killed - missiles downed by the airbase defence?
Also the remains of one downed tomahawk at or near Tartus appeared in the media. Warhead in one piece apparently, but only fragments from the body of the missile. Seems odd.

@177 I know Reuters started it and the others picked it up. They say they got it from something called Ilam Al Harbi. There's a document on AL Mssdar in Arabic supposed to be from a 'joint command center'.

It looks like another attempt to challenge Donald's manhood to me but you can believe Reuters if you want.

'Director of the local school Khodr added that the same occurred in other villages.

"Yes, everyone was scared and the same situation was in the neighboring villages. They might strike again. But we have been living in war for six years and Americans will not make us leave our land. And if Trump wants to help the Syrian people, he should better leave Syria alone and take his terrorists back," Khodr said.'https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201704091052470490-syria-airfield-damages/

Re #194 Sorry.....somebody butted in there. I meant to respond to Peter AU at #190. Something nebulous called a 'joint command center' issued a threat about red lines. I'd be more impressed if it came from Moscow or Tehran. But Reuters were all over it and now it's on Yahoo so it must be true.

The full article from al Masdar news
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:50 P.M.) – The military operation rooms of Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and other allies have just released a new joint statement. This joint statement was spurred on by US aggression that saw the country strike the Shayrat Airbase in rural Homs with Tomahawk missiles.

The statement released in Arabic states that the allied operations room recognizes that the US is supporting the separation of northern Syria and Iraq from their respective states.

Point seven of the statement details how all US military are legitimate targets as they have crossed every red line possible and operate illegally in Syria. It then emphasizes that the joint military operations room will respond strongly to any aggression and any violation made by the US in Syria.

They they go onto reiterate their full support of the Syrian Army to fully liberate every part of Syria occupied by terrorist forces.

It then goes onto state how they will not allow a unipolar world with the United States as the dominate power to continue to impose its will across the globe.

The statement then concludes by stating that they will only increase their support for the Syrian Army to continue its fight against terrorist forces plaguing Syria.

Two questions. does Adam Garry at the Duran speak or read Arabic? Has he ever been to Syria?

When people like Fadel and Beely say one thing, and Garry says the opposite - concerning Syria I would tend to believe Fadel and Beely.

Well there should be some sort of line drawn - perhaps an Orange Line.

I like a statement something like this.

"If US forces again take illegal aggressive actions by attacking Syrian Government forces, Russia & Iran and allies will take all necessary military measures to deal with the threat to international peace and security....."

That sort of statement leaves plenty of wiggle room, but is also fairly clear.